Report ·
Oct 16, 2007

American Support for Local Action on Global Warming

Report Summary

Recent national surveys demonstrate that Americans are increasingly convinced that global warming is occurring and favor a wide range of national and international policies to slow it. We currently have almost no understanding, however, about public support for action on global warming by cities and local governments. Yet cities and local governments are critical players, as most of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming come from urban areas. Building codes, zoning, transportation systems, and electricity production are all examples of critical choices made at the local level, with large consequences on greenhouse gas emissions. This survey project is the first to measure public support for a variety of local climate change policies. Two national telephone surveys of Americans, ages 18 and over, were conducted from September 21-23 (n=1,004) and September 28-30, 2007 (n=1,005) in collaboration with GfK Roper.